Camera ban at pool makes a splash

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A proposal by Randwick City Council to ban cameras at an aquatic
centre has split the council, with the former mayor saying it
"offends common sense".

The council voted 8-7 on Tuesday night to ban all cameras at the
Des Renford Aquatic Centre in Maroubra. While the Mayor, Murray
Matson, supported the draft policy, the former mayor, Councillor
Dominic Sullivan, said the policy was "nonsense".

"We've never agreed to it and never will," Cr Sullivan said.
"This is unnecessary and offends common sense. If there's an issue
with perverts, involve the police. Don't involve the rights of
literally thousands of parents for taking photos of children."

The Herald revealed this week that Sharyn Brownlee, the
NSW president of the Federation of Parents and Citizens'
Associations, wants parents to seek permission from schools to film
and photograph their child - and only their child - at swimming
carnivals, school plays and other events.

The Randwick Council ban on cameras would be enforced "once you
are inside the complex and pass the turnstiles", a council
spokeswoman said.

The draft policy on dealing with the use of mobile phone cameras
and still, video or film cameras at the pool complex is on public
display for the next month.

The president of the Local Government Association, Genia
McCaffery, who is also the Mayor of North Sydney, called for the
policing of unsolicited photography, rather than banning
photography altogether at pools.

Cr McCaffery said "it's a matter up to the individual councils
and not something we will have a policy about".

She said people who wanted to take photos of their families at
swimming pools should not be restricted by councils.